At the foot of Meili Snow Mountain lies a secluded Tibetan village, known as Yubeng. Whoever said, “the moment I heard this name, I know I had to go.
It’s a hiker’s paradise. Every year, thousands of pilgrims, from all corners of the country and even the world, make their determined journey into the mountains, step by step, towards Yubeng. And those who’ve been there, none have regretted drawing near. “If can’t reach heaven, then Yubeng,” goes the slogan, whispered through the ages. Yet, there are still those who’ve never been to Yuebng.
But the beauty there, truly defies verbal description. Lush forests, a 3700-meter pass, Meili Snow Mountain up close. The towering peaks of the Goddess and the Five compassionate Sisters stand distinctly before you. Climbing to the summit, crossing the pass, suddenly the vista widens. Two snow-capped mountains come into full view, with Yubeng nestled at their feet. The thundering roar of the river echoes through the valley, surrounded by mountains. The village shrouded in mist seems transcendent of the mundane world.
Words seem pale here, travelers forget their fatigue along the way. Snow-capped mountains, forests, grasslands, each scene serene and tranquil.
It’s said that Yubeng Village got its name from being situated beneath the snow-capped mountains, perpetually moistened by the melting snow, as if “rainwater cascading down,” the origin of its name is as dizzying beautiful as the place itself.
Yubeng Village is located in Deqin county, Diqing Prefecture, within the territory of Yunling Township, with Upper Yubeng Village and Lower Yubeng village. The two villages are about a kilometer apart, with the Yubeng River flowing between them. The toil of the hike dissipates the moment you catch sight of the snow-capped mountains. Snow mountains always have this tremendous power to soothe the soul. This power, if not experienced firsthand on the long trek, is hard to fathom.
Yubeng Ice Lake is the “holy lake” of Meili Snow Mountain, at an altitude of about 3800 meters, formed by the gathering of melted snow from the mountains. The lake water is exceptionally cold, deep green like jade, with glaciers extending to the lake shore. The lake itself is a bit primitive and rugged. But after passing through forests, traversing pastures, seeing the stacked mani cairns by the lake, witnessing the glacier melt water flowing from all directions, with the towering Kawagebo Peak in the distance, that kind of awe, even for travelers without faith, invokes reverence.
Starting from Lower Yubeng Village, along the way, you can see ancient inscriptions and the curious sight of five trees sharing the same roots. The final destination of the pilgrimage to Meili is the most important sacred site for Meili – the Divine Waterfall. Like white silk, glacier melt water cascades down from the thousand-meter cliffs, crashing onto the rocks and dispersing, like airborne snow. The prayer flags on either side add solemnity to the scene. The Tibetan people walk, longing for happiness in the next life. And for those of us without religious beliefs, at this moment, both body and soul experience complete liberation.
In May, Yubeng is filled with splendid azaleas, endless stars, and stargazers. Nowhere else can match the beauty of Yubeng’s nights, with icebergs and the Milky Way in sight, accompanied by beer and friends. We can’t see each other, bue we can see the joy of each other’s eye as the stars fall.